The T-score system will be replaced, giving way to a new PSLE scoring that will stratify students’ into 8 Achievement Levels (ALs) for each subject. The new scoring affects only students taking PSLE on and after 2021.

New PSLE system will unfairly discriminate weaker students and add more stress to parents.

Parents of 2016 P1 pupils, please take note, as it would affect your child.

With the new PSLE scoring system it would mean that a student who scored 256 marks in four subjects would enter the Normal (Academic) stream, while the student who scored 220 marks would qualify for the Express stream. This outcome is unfair to the one who did better, Mr Chee said.

For the student who would have scored 256 marks in the old system, would score 24 points in new system which qualifies him only for Normal stream. Another pupil who would have scored 220 marks in old system would score 22 points which qualifies him to opt for Express or Normal stream.

“For instance, AL5 ranges from 65 to 74 marks, and AL6 ranges from 45 to 64. A pupil may score 64 marks in all four subjects for a total score of 24 (that is, four subjects in AL6), which qualifies him for the Normal (Academic) stream.

Another pupil may score 45 marks in two subjects and 65 in the other two for a total score of 22 (that is, two subjects in AL5 and another two in AL6), which qualifies him for the Express or Normal (Academic) stream, and he can then opt for the Express stream.” Mr Chee said.

how can Total Raw score student (256), who perform better & higher than student with 220 : get streamed into Normal (Academic), while the student (220, lower) get option to choose to goto Express / Normal stream ?

The T-score system will be replaced, giving way to a new PSLE scoring that will stratify students’ into 8 Achievement Levels (ALs) for each subject. The new scoring affects only students taking PSLE on and after 2021.

What does all of these mean to you as a parent? What can you do? Find out our initial thought here:Continue Reading

I disagree with the sentence "AL5 – 8 are broader and they significantly increase the number of students who will get the same PSLE score." From the earlier news, it was stated that half of the students will get AL4 and above. So, means the other half will get AL5 and below. Following a normal bell curve, the proportion of students getting AL1-4 will be similar to those getting AL5-8.

On your example : Student A and Student B score 74 and 65 respectively, their psle score will be roughly 222 vs 195. Yes, although it is a 27 points different, but I don't really think they will definitely be posted to very different schools under the current psle system.

So, hence, I don't agree with your conclusion. I think while many of us are very confused by the change and taking our time to understand the implications to our children, especially those impacted by the change, we should be responsible enough to avoid providing misleading information or analysis which may intentionally or unintentionally create an unnecessary stir.

sevenseals wrote:New PSLE system will unfairly discriminate weaker students and add more stress to parents.

Parents of 2016 P1 pupils, please take note, as it would affect your child.

With the new PSLE scoring system it would mean that a student who scored 256 marks in four subjects would enter the Normal (Academic) stream, while the student who scored 220 marks would qualify for the Express stream. This outcome is unfair to the one who did better, Mr Chee said.

For the student who would have scored 256 marks in the old system, would score 24 points in new system which qualifies him only for Normal stream. Another pupil who would have scored 220 marks in old system would score 22 points which qualifies him to opt for Express or Normal stream.

“For instance, AL5 ranges from 65 to 74 marks, and AL6 ranges from 45 to 64. A pupil may score 64 marks in all four subjects for a total score of 24 (that is, four subjects in AL6), which qualifies him for the Normal (Academic) stream.

Another pupil may score 45 marks in two subjects and 65 in the other two for a total score of 22 (that is, two subjects in AL5 and another two in AL6), which qualifies him for the Express or Normal (Academic) stream, and he can then opt for the Express stream.” Mr Chee said.

That's the reason why I disagree with the way they define AL6. It should be narrower or even split into 2.

I feel that the new scoring only benefits the intelligent ones as there is not much difference in the changes.. The new system will also penalised you, if you are the "unlucky one" who always scored in the higher band in the each AL... For those, always managed to score in the lower band in each AL, you will gain from this situation..

with AL 22 points : Y qualify to opt, for either Express or Normal stream. Y can then opt for, the Express stream.

But in reality, Who actually performed better ?X (at 256), or Y (at 220), for Total Raw score ?

Under the new PSLE AL Banding system : it means that X whose Total RAW score is 256 marks in 4 subjects -will get streamed or channeled into the Normal (Academic) stream.

In contrast, Y whose Total Raw score is lower, 220 marks, (256 - 220 = 36 marks difference, Yes, much lower than X), will qualify for Express stream. This outcome is unfair to the one (X) who did much better, based on Total Raw score.

if we were to convert X and Y Total Raw score into T-score, roughly what'll they be ?as a rough estimate: let's take their (Total Raw score for 4 subjects) x 0.72(since we do not know the actual entire P6 PSLE entire cohort standard deviation)

estimated T-score, for X : (265 x 0.72) = 190.8

estimated T-score, for Y : (220 x 0.72) = 158.4

under the current T-score system (up to year 2020) -if minimum 200 is the qualifying T-score to enter Express stream, then Y will not have the chance to enter Express stream, since his estimated T-score (158.4) is so far away from minimum 200.

in contrast, under the new AL banding system -Y has the opportunity, to opt for either Express or Normal.

with AL 22 points : Y qualify to opt, for either Express or Normal stream. Y can then opt for, the Express stream.

But in reality, Who actually performed better ?X (at 256), or Y (at 220), for Total Raw score ?

Under the new PSLE AL Banding system : it means that X whose Total RAW score is 256 marks in 4 subjects -will get streamed or channeled into the Normal (Academic) stream.

In contrast, Y whose Total Raw score is lower, 220 marks, (256 - 220 = 36 marks difference, Yes, much lower than X), will qualify for Express stream. This outcome is unfair to the one (X) who did much better, based on Total Raw score.

if we were to convert X and Y Total Raw score into T-score, roughly what'll they be ?as a rough estimate: let's take their (Total Raw score for 4 subjects) x 0.72(since we do not know the actual entire P6 PSLE entire cohort standard deviation)

estimated T-score, for X : (265 x 0.72) = 190.8

estimated T-score, for Y : (220 x 0.72) = 158.4

under the current T-score system (up to year 2020) -if minimum 200 is the qualifying T-score to enter Express stream, then Y will not have the chance to enter Express stream, since his estimated T-score (158.4) is so far away from minimum 200.

in contrast, under the new AL banding system -Y has the opportunity, to opt for either Express or Normal.